Anganwadi workers in India organize for full recognition and fair compensation

Anganwadi workers, a crucial group of community health workers in India, are at the forefront of a growing movement for recognition and fair compensation. Operating from Anganwadi centres (“courtyard shelters” in Hindi) located in villages and urban areas, these workers, predominantly women, play a vital role in rural healthcare, especially in child development and maternal health.

Background on Anganwadi Workers

Historically considered volunteers, Anganwadi workers lack formal recognition as government employees. Consequently, they receive an honorarium rather than a regular salary. Their workload has increased over time and worsened in the digital age, with recently deployed mobile applications adding more tasks and technical challenges to their already demanding roles.

Anganwadi workers are part of a broader category of community health workers in India, which also includes Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) which shares many similar challenges.

Recent Organizing Efforts

With support from UNI Global Union, there’s growing interest in organization and mobilization among Anganwadi workers. They are demanding better working conditions, fair compensation, and recognition for their crucial role in community care and child development.

On August 16 and 17, 2024, one-day training sessions were held respectively in the capital cities of Pune (Maharashtra) and Ranchi (Jharkhand). UNI affiliates, the Rastriya Mazdoor Sangh (RMS) in Pune and the Jharkhand State Non-Gazetted Workers Union in Ranchi, provided strong support in organizing these sessions. Together with UNI Asia & Pacific, they trained 40 local Anganwadi worker leaders. Participants intensively discussed the care sector, the importance of organizing, building union power, and enhancing communication and mobilization skills.

Mr. Sunil Shinde, President of RMS in Pune, emphasized, “Anganwadi workers are the backbone of community care and child development in our state. Authorities must recognize their work and compensate them fairly!”

In Ranchi, Mr. Ashok Kumar Singh, General Secretary of the Jharkhand State Non-Gazetted Employees Federation (JSNGEF), stated, “Our primary campaign is to raise awareness among Anganwadi workers and ensure the authorities, including the Central Minister, State Chief Minister, and bureaucrats, fulfill their commitments. Our union seeks peaceful resolutions, but we will escalate to street protests if necessary.”

Challenges Faced by Anganwadi Workers

A pressing issue facing Anganwadi workers is the increasing digital workload due to tasks imposed via mobile apps. With approximately 210,000 Anganwadi workers in Maharashtra and 40,000 in Jharkhand, many feel they have become “digital slaves” under constant pressure.

Support from UNI Global Union

UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary Rajendra Acharya expressed strong support for the organizing efforts. He said, “These sessions are an important step for Anganwadi workers’ empowerment and align well with the 5R approach adopted at the recent International Labour Conference (2024): Recognizing unpaid work, Reducing burdens, Redistributing responsibilities, Rewarding care workers, and ensuring Representation.

As Anganwadi workers continue to organize and advocate for their rights, their efforts highlight the broader struggle for recognition and fair compensation among community health workers in India and globally.